Plum-headed Parakeet
Psittacula cyanocephala
The Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) is a common old world parrot found in 12 countries, weighing about 66 g. The plum-headed parakeet is a species of parakeet in the family Psittacidae.
About the Plum-headed Parakeet
The plum-headed parakeet is a species of parakeet in the family Psittacidae. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and was once thought to be conspecific with the blossom-headed parakeet before being elevated to a full species. Plum-headed parakeets are found in flocks, the males having a pinkish purple head and the females, a grey head. They fly swiftly with twists and turns accompanied by their distinctive calls.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The plum-headed parakeet is a mainly green parrot, 33–37 cm (13–15 in) long with a weight of 55–85 g (1.9–3.0 oz). Its tail has a length of up to 22 cm (8.7 in). The male has a red head which shades to purple-blue on the back of the crown, nape and cheeks, while the female has a blueish-gray head. There is a narrow black neck collar with verdigris below on the nape and a black chin stripe that extends from the lower mandible. There is a red shoulder patch and the rump and tail are bluish-green, the latter tipped white. The upper mandible is orangish-yellow, and the lower mandible is dark.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Spain, United States, Bhutan, United Kingdom, South Africa.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in February. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Plum-headed Parakeet?
- The plum-headed parakeet is a mainly green parrot, 33–37 cm (13–15 in) long with a weight of 55–85 g (1.9–3.0 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Plum-headed Parakeet?
- The Plum-headed Parakeet is a medium sized bird weighing about 66 g.
- Where can you see a Plum-headed Parakeet?
- The Plum-headed Parakeet occurs in 12 countries, including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates.
- What birds look similar to a Plum-headed Parakeet?
- The Plum-headed Parakeet is most easily confused with the Alexandrine Parakeet, the Blue-winged Parakeet and the Red-breasted Parakeet.
- Is the Plum-headed Parakeet endangered?
- The Plum-headed Parakeet is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Plum-headed Parakeet for real
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